A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Wetter family of Switzerland.
Reg. 4183 · Swiss, W–Z
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à une Fortune de carn., posée sur un globe d'arg. ailé du même, et tenant de ses deux mains un voile d'arg. qui fait le tour de son corps. C.: les meubles de l'écu. L. d'arg. et d'azur.”
Switzerlandc. 1745
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Map of Switzerland showing where the Wetter arms are recorded
The Wetter arms were recorded in Switzerland, c. 1745.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bern.
Bern was the largest of the Swiss cantons and ran itself, with its own council and its own courts. Its governing families held office for generations, and office of that kind carried a shield with it.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Switzerland in this period.
How Arms Worked in Switzerland
In Switzerland, coats of arms were not restricted to the nobility and were often adopted by common citizens and families. These symbols were passed down through generations to show family identity. When branches of a family grew, they often changed small details of the design to distinguish their own line from the original group.
Granting authority
Cantonal and civic authorities managed the use of coats of arms within their specific regions and local jurisdictions.
How they got arms
Families typically assumed their own coats of arms based on local custom rather than receiving them from a central monarch.
Where arms were recorded
Arms were recorded in various cantonal and civic registers starting from the fourteenth century throughout the Swiss region.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Switzerland.
Origin & History of the Wetter Family in Switzerland
The surname Wetter is deeply rooted in the German-speaking regions of Switzerland, with historical records confirming that members of the family were established in the city of Bern by 1745. The name itself is likely derived from the Middle High German word "weter," which translates to weather. In medieval times, this name was often used as a descriptive nickname for a person with a stormy or unpredictable temperament, or perhaps someone who worked outdoors and was constantly exposed to the elements. As families began to adopt permanent surnames, this nickname transitioned into a hereditary name passed down through generations. By the mid-18th century, the Wetter family had integrated into the social and civic life of Bern, contributing to the local community during a period of significant growth and political stability in the Swiss Confederacy.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Weter
Old High German term for weather or storm.
This name
WetterA descriptive nickname for someone with a stormy temperament or a weather-related occupation.
also spelled
Wettar
Wetterr
Wettor
Weter
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern, Bürgerrodel der Stadt Bern
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roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
